National-level opposition alliance a necessity: Nitish Kumar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday mooted the idea of an opposition grand alliance at the national level to take on the BJP-led NDA government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2019 general polls.

"There is a possibility of a grand alliance and it's a necessity in the country," Nitish Kumar told media persons here reacting to Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's fresh move for an alliance of like-minded parties.

He said it is a welcome step if Mulayam Singh has initiated a move to form a grand alliance of secular parties.

Nitish Kumar said the opposition parties have to be united in the country to fight against the BJP. "All non-BJP parties have to unite. It is the need of the time."

He recalled that last year, ahead of the Bihar Assembly polls, an attempt was made to form a grand alliance led by Mulayam Singh but it could not take shape. "But, it does not mean that a fresh bid for formation of a grand alliance should not made," he said.

The Samajwadi Party had walked out of the RJD-JD(U) alliance in Bihar last year, straining relations between Nitish Kumar and Mulayam Singh.

Responding to whether he will attend the silver jubilee ceremony of Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party in November, he said: "I have not received any such invitation so far."

Nitish Kumar has vowed to contest the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls early next year.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad is, however, expected to attend the celebrations.

--IANS

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